Draft-yoke.



G. S. CHILES.

DRAFT YOKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIO, 1915.

Patented J My 25, 1916.

GEORGE S. CHILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF NEW YORK, N., Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DRAFT-YOKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ent device is to provide for a rigid, un-

fielding and simple connection between a draw-bar and yoke.

I am aware that many forms of connections have been suggested but it is believed the present form eliminates many objections as to weight, initial cost and dificulty in application.

In the present construction I contemplate the association with a shank or draw-bar of common construction of a yoke having shallow notches or depressions on the upper and lower faces thereof and a .band which is intended to be compressed while hot in the notches in the yoke. The combination of the compressing and shrinkage forces tends to bind the yoke securely to the draw-bar making it in effect an integral part thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ends of a draw-bar and yoke constructed and assembled as contemplated by me; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44- of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a still further modification with a slightly different follower in place; Fig.6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and, Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the followers shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that I provide a drawbar, the butt 10, of which is provided with notches 11, within which the downturned ends 12, of the yoke straps 13, engage. At the ends the "straps 13, are increased slightly in thickness an at the point of greatest thickness are notched, as indicated by the dotted lines 14, in Figs. 1 and 2. After the yoke and draw-bar have been assembled, a band 15, of steel is heated and when heated is of a size sufficient to permit it to pass over the high points on the yoke and when opposite the notches 14, therein, is compressed by a suitable press and then allowed to cool. The shrinkage strains will then tend to bind the yoke securely on the drawbar and no rivets or keys are necessary.

In Flgs. 3 and 4 the draw-bar butt 16, is of the common type and the downturned hooks 17, lie behind the shoulders 18. The yoke strap 19, is increased in thickness'at the point of engagement with the draw-bar and at its sides is provided with an overhung portion 20, which lies on each side of the drawbar butt 16. Located at the rear of the draw-bar are lugs21, corresponding in size and shape to the downturned ends 17, of the yoke. This construction secures the same function asthat shown in Fig. 1, that is, prevents relative longitudinal movement between the draw-bar and yoke. The band 22, is shrunk on as described in connection with the preceding figures. By the use of a construction such as just described it is necessary to provide for a follower of slightly different construction and in the follower 23, which I have shown I have provided recesses or notches 24, as best shown in Fig. 7, which accommodate" the lugs .21, on the-yoke.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the draw-bar butt 25, is the same as is shown in Fig. 3, and the yoke straps 26, are the same except in that the downturned edges are eliminated. In both cases the yoke is secured to the draw-bar by the band '27. By the use of the follower 28, shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, I provide for a solid hearing against the butt of the coupler without reference to the lugs 29, on the yoke, The follower varies slightly from that shown in Fig. 7 in that the recess 30, extends entirely through the thickness of the follower. The function is, however, the same in both cases. An advantage in the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 over that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is that the band 27 may lie closely alongside. the faces of the drawJoar butt. In the construction of. Figs. 3 and 4 this hand must necessarily be spaced away'from the butt to an extent equal to the thickness of the overhung portion 20, on the yoke.

It will be obvious that the construction is capable of further modifications than those shown and such modifications as are within Patented July 25, 1916.

the scope of my claims I consider Within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a draw-bar having shoulders, and a yoke having hooks engaging said shoulders, said yoke being notched and thickened at its notched end to compensate for said notches, and an endless band compressed into said notched portion and adapted to hold the parts in proper relation, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a draw-bar having shoulders, a yoke having hooks engaging said shoulders and preventing relative longitudinal movement between the parts, said yoke having a notch at a point near the end of the draw-bar, and a band compressed into said notch and shrunk around the parts whereby to hold the parts in operative relation Without the use of other fastening means, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a draw-bar, a yoke strap having end and intermediate lugs engaging said draw-bar and preventing relative longitudinal movement of the parts, said strap having a notch in its upper and lower surface near the forward end of the strap, and a band occupying said notches and shrunk around said draw-bar and yoke and adapted to hold the parts in operative relation, substantially as described.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 5th day of May, 1915.

GEORGE SCHILES. \Vitnesses J. F. LYNN, \V. F. SKEW. 

